Rebels To Free 3 From Mission

October 30, 1985|United Press International

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — Left-wing guerrillas have agreed to free three U.S. missionaries kidnapped 24 days ago in Colombia`s eastern jungles and turn them over to a government peace commission, a commission source said Tuesday.

The source said the kidnappers are members of the First Front of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces. A FARC representative promised the peace commission Monday night to release the missionaries at a meeting in Bogota, the source said.

Three members of the commission were delegated to travel to the jungle area to receive the missionaries. The commission was established to oversee a cease-fire truce signed with four rebel groups.

The commission delegates, who planned to make the trip Tuesday afternoon or today, are Carlos Morales, Jose Sojos and Alberto Rojas Puyo. Rojas Puyo, director of Colombia`s Communist Party, made a public plea Sunday for the FARC to release the missionaries.

Four members of the New Tribes Mission, based in Sanford in South Florida, were kidnapped Oct. 5 but Paul Dye, 45, a pilot from Saginaw, Mich., escaped four days later. Those still missing are Tim Cain, 35, of Keokuk, Iowa; his wife Bonnie ``Bunny`` Cain, 33, of Alexandria, Va.; and Steve Estelle, 34, of Douglas, Ariz.

Mel Wyma, spokesman for the New Tribes Mission, said the rebels have demanded the group pay $130,000 in ransom for the release of Bunny Cain as a requirement for negotiations for the release of the two men.

Dye, who escaped, has flown over the area and dropped leaflets that said the missionary group would not pay ransom.